To raise money and awareness for the battle against cancer, two dozen bands have donated their time for the Ballyhoo Music Festival, which will be Sunday in four downtown bars.

The Lemon Grove, The Draught House, Downtown 36 and Barley’s Pub will be the venues for the event, which begins at noon and runs until 10 p.m. Tickets are $10 and grant admission to all four venues. They can be purchased at the door of each bar.

Scott Austalosh of Austintown is the founder and event director of Ballyhoo. A small business owner who has organized fundraisers in the past, Austalosh said he long has wanted to do an event like Ballyhoo.

Austalosh, who is also a musician, got the ball rolling in May when he contacted The Hern Brothers Band about starting a music festival to benefit the fight against cancer.

“I hadn’t seen my friends Rick and Dave Hern in years,” said Austalosh. “Rick is battling cancer and is one of the most positive people I’ve met.”

Christina’s Garden, a local nonprofit cancer organization founded by Jack Savage, is a partner and beneficiary of Ballyhoo.

Austalosh said he had no trouble getting other bands to jump on board and donate their performance to the festival.

“Every musician involved is donating their time,” said Austalosh.

The lineup will range from acoustic to hard rock, and bluegrass to blues.

“We have music covering all genres,” said Austalosh. “One of our venues, Draught House, will be strictly acoustic all day.”

A guitar autographed by M ∂tley Cr ºe singer Vince Neil will be auctioned off through WNCD-93.3 FM to benefit Ballyhoo charities.